🗞️ Panic at the infill

Oh hello Halifax,

Every once in a while a study lands on my desk that is so confounding, I simply must pause and scrunch my eyes up. Luckily for you, my friends, it happened today!

Leger conducted a poll that suggests more than one in three Canadians have been touched directly by extreme weather such as forest fires, heat waves, floods or tornadoes. This makes sense because—flooding in Toronto, fires in Jasper, heat waves…everywhere. In fact, the number of people touched by extreme weather jumped significantly in every province  except Manitoba and Saskatchewan (must be nice).

But—here’s the truly baffling part to me—the people who took the survey were LESS LIKELY to be concerned about climate change now than they were last year.

Ummmmmm. < 🦗crickets 🦗>

So, lemme get this straight. People are like “hell yeah, this weather is crazy” as they’re knee deep in water or their backyard is burning down, but then be like “I’m just not convinced the earth is broken.”

So, basically, things are perfect and everything is great. And so are you! So have a safe and restful weekend.

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 24°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 27°

Next Day: 🌤️ 25°

7-day forecast

🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

NEWS + OPINION

Angry property owner taking public land hostage? Dartmouth Cove isn’t the first time

Months after Transportation Canada said it would rescind its approval of a pyrite infilling project in Dartmouth Cove, Atlantic Road Construction and Paving Ltd. installed barriers blocking the nearby trails on Wednesday—a threat that ARCP will start work despite a lack of approval.

It began with ARCP installing a safety fence. Later on Wednesday, concrete barriers were placed to block entry to the trail, which stretches three kilometres along the harbour, allowing pedestrians to get to and from the Alderney and Woodside ferry terminals. Signs attached to the barriers state the trail is closed while construction is ongoing. The company did not receive any permission from the province, which owns the land, to erect these barriers, and the municipality was quick to question why the trail was being blocked. Those who use the trails quickly began protesting the company’s flagrant actions, which also undermine Halifax council’s plan to stop or limit the infilling project.

This is not the first time a private entity in Nova Scotia has bullied local governments and the public in an attempt to get what they want. Some will recall a similar debacle with Silver Sands Beach in Cow Bay, where a private landowner who originally agreed to let the public use a trail on his property to access the beach blocked it with a fence and later locked the gate, preventing the public from entering for two full years as it was debated in court. While the two situations differ in scope and purpose, the Silver Sands case may shed some light on why ARCP are doing what they’re doing.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speculates on why ARCP decided to place barriers down on the Dartmouth Cove trail when it won’t get them any closer to being able to start their infilling project.

🤔 Need To Know

🚆 In a first for Canada, freight traffic on its two largest railways has simultaneously ground to a halt—threatening to upend supply chains trying to move forward from pandemic-related disruptions and a port strike last year.

🏠 As a follow-up to yesterday’s piece on the problem of student housing, Lauren Phillips has compiled a list of resources for students looking for a place to live in the city.

🧑‍🎨 Support4Culture, is dedicated to fostering artistic endeavors, and cultural enrichment within the music industry. See the impact Support4Culture makes here.*

🌊 Don’t miss your last chance to experience Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend at the Museum of Natural History. This beautiful exhibit at closes on September 2, 2024.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY HALIFAX TRANSIT

Halifax Transit Fare Increase

New Halifax Transit fares will take effect on September 1. Please note that September monthly passes with new pricing will be available for purchase at retailers and on HFXGO as of August 20, 2024.

MUSIC

The future is the new nostalgia

Hearing Rich Aucoin’s voice on the phone takes me back. To Mr. Seely’s Grade 11 English class, to dozens of house parties and dances with Ja Rule and Nelly—of course—to Aucoin’s very first show at the late, great Tribeca in 2007.

In a lot of ways, he and I grew up together, and despite the passage of time it feels like we’re right back there, laughing on the phone; only this one’s not a landline and his mom (likely) won’t tell him to hang up and go to bed.

The conversation makes me feel, well, nostalgic. Which is fitting because Aucoin’s new track and the name of his tour—New Nostalgia—is all about enjoying a visit to the past, but not living there. 

Nostalgia has played a key role in his career, but as the New Nostalgia moniker of his latest song and tour connotes, he’s ready to wrap up the wild spectacle of symphonic pop and multi-sensory effects—including the unraveling of a giant parachute over the audience—that have become his staple, and look forward to a new chapter.

The Coast’s Julie Lawrence and Rich Aucoin catch up and talk about making a career out of music, finding inspiration, why it’s time to pack away the parachute and what’s next for him.

🗞️ In Other News

🚨 The new chief for the Halifax Regional Police expects charges to be laid in connection to a high-profile attack on a same-sex couple in the city’s downtown core earlier this summer.

🌿 From April 1 to June 30, NSLC reported $31.2 million in cannabis sales—an increase of 7.3% over 2023’s first quarter.

🏢 In the year since Nova Scotia invested $1.3M in a home-sharing platform aimed at helping renters find affordable housing, a total of just 23 leases have been signed.

🌡️ A new poll suggests more Canadians are feeling the direct impacts of extreme weather, but that has not changed overall opinions about climate change.

🍝 The Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia says NS restaurants are struggling to stay open amid rising food and operating costs—nearly half are losing money or just breaking even.

⚖️ A woman who sought a surgical procedure to prevent pregnancy testified in court that a Cape Breton gynecologist told her the choice should be up to her future husband and that "no other doctor in Canada" would perform it on her.

🚔 Const. Jacob Farr—A Halifax Regional Police constable—has been given a year of probation after pleading guilty to assault stemming from a confrontation at a downtown restaurant.

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓2024 WASZP North American Championship: Get ready to witness top-tier sailing talent from across North America converge on our shores for a spectacular event filled with speed, skill, and camaraderie. The WASZP class—as in “wasp”—is renowned for its exhilarating foiling action, and we are privileged to be chosen as the host venue for this prestigious championship. | Aug 20-25

🗓Myoflex Canadian National Pickleball Championships: Come see the best amateur pickleball players in Canada compete over five days to see who is the best in the country! Mens and womens singles and doubles, and mixed doubles, will battle it out during the competition in round robin as well as age and skill levels. | Aug 20-24

🗓Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour: The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour is returning to the Courts at Salter on the Halifax Waterfront. 32 teams, five days, 80 action-packed games. It’s the beach party of the summer! | Aug 21-25 | $15

🗓Billy Idol Rebel Yell 2024 Tour: Produced by Live Nation Canada, Idol’s show will include a myriad of hits from across his career with a focus on the landmark Rebel Yell album, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Joining Idol is his longtime backing band, including his lead guitarist and collaborator of over 40 years, Steve Stevens. Canadian Walk Of Fame inductees Platinum Blonde will appear as special guests across all stops, including Friday’s Halifax show. | Aug 23 | 8pm | $49.50

🗓Rich Aucoin—with DJ sets from Twoo—Live at the Shore Club: Come see Rich Aucoin for his Penultimate Parachute Party Tour! The parachute and interactive show is retiring in 2025 so this is your second-last chance to see Rich's famed multi-media crowd-karaoke sing-along dance-party. For a lot more on this year's show, New Nostalgia, check out Julie Lawrence’s story above or at The Coast site. | Aug 23 | 8pm | $20

🗓Field Trip to Still Dancing at Ship's Company Theatre: Hit the road to see some theatre! Travel in style in a comfortable passenger bus with wifi and air conditioning. There will be stops along the way so you can enjoy some scenery and snacks, art and animals and, of course, lunch! All of this will culminate in the main event: a matinee performance of Still Dancing at Ship's Company Theatre in Parrsboro.| Aug 24 | 9am | $95

Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🛳️➡️ The Zim Iberia container ship arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 6:20am and leaves for New York at 4:30pm.

🛳️➡️ The Volendam cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 8am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🛳️ The MSC Sines R. container ship arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 11:15am.

🛳️ The Acadian oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 1:44pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 11pm.

🛳️➡️ The CMA CGM Galapagos container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo at 5:15am and  leaves for New York at 11pm.

🛳️➡️ The Atlantic Sea container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm and leaves for Liverpool at 11:30pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🧁 Try a new take on a classic with the Blueberry Shortcake cupcake at Layers Cupcakes: vanilla bean cake filled with blueberries, piped with vanilla bean buttercream, then loaded with more blueberries and cake crumb on top.

🫖 Need a good buzz with no spike or crash? Try the NEW iced cap cold brew (tea, not coffee) from David’s Tea.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎤 Seth Smith thought he was done with music. The lead vocalist for Halifax-based Dog Day had been crafting melancholic indie rock tunes with his wife Nancy Urich and a rotating cast of band members since before Dog Day's 2007 debut, Night Group. But after their 2013 record Fade Out, Smith succumbed to the burnout of keeping up with his band. After taking a break and with a reinvigorated passion fueling their efforts, Dog Day is still proving to listeners that they’re one of Halifax’s best indie bands on their brand-new record, A T-Shirt With Writing on It. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with Smith about the band’s latest album and how they switched up their sound to fit their three-piece line-up.

🏠 Student Housing NS is a non-profit housing provider that recently switched to supporting and advocating for the housing needs of students province-wide. The group also leads research into student housing needs to develop support. Right now, they’re asking all postsecondary students in Nova Scotia to complete a five-minute survey on the realities they face when looking for and securing housing so they can better understand the problem and how to help—ahead of the fall semester.  So, what is the current problem facing students? The Coast’s education reporter Lauren Phillips spoke with Mitchell Archibald—executive director of Student Housing NS—to answer that question.

That’s it!

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